TORONTO — Almost 200 people gathered recently at One Family Fund’s first annual Mix It Up at Brassaii Restaurant and Lounge on King Street West in Toronto.

The Jan. 31 event featured hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, live jazz and a silent-auction shopping centre with 100 items, ranging from fashion and beauty to fitness and home décor products.

More than $16,000 was raised for the non-profit organization, which provides financial, legal and emotional support to victims of terror in Israel.

Samantha Margolis, Mix It Up chair, said she was inspired by her mother-in-law, Pam Foreht, to create the event. On a visit to Israel, Foreht met with some of people who One Family Fund assists and she decided the organization needed a higher profile in Toronto.

“Since One Family Fund has never done a fundraising event of this nature, we decided to create the inaugural Mix It Up in hopes that it will become an annual initiative to raise money and awareness,” said Margolis.

Pam Albert, One Family Fund’s executive director in Canada, said the organization wants to engage new supporters and “share our story of why we need to be there to help victims of terror in the aftermath of terror. They can become much more independent, but the ongoing support of our support groups, retreats and camps gives them the strength to move forward one day at a time.”

One Family Fund provides “a tangible, concrete way for people in the Diaspora to connect to victims of terror in Israel,” said Albert. “Supporters can come with us to Israel and experience the essence of what we do. They can meet victims of terror, look them in the eye, attend retreats for orphans and bereaved parents, and see first-hand why they need our help. It is about heart connections.”

She said One Family Fund shows people that collective help makes a big difference. “Rockets are still falling in Israel, even though we do not hear about them every day. Israelis need to know that we can show our solidarity and be there for them. We truly are one family in Canada joining to help our Israel family.”

One Family Fund’s upcoming events include its first Israel Dragon Boat Festival on May 14 to 19, its annual bike ride on June 24 and its golf tournament on Aug. 9.

For more information, visit www.onefamilyfund.ca or call 416-489-9687.